Codes Pertaining To Causes Of Death On Old Death Certificates

[237SJ]

I have obtained the death certificate of my great grandmother and beside the cause of death, there are the words 1 (a) Carcinoma of Breast and 11 Senility Does anyone know what the numbers represent?

[Quizproquo]

I'm guessing, but I think the 11 might actually be a roman numral 2 so main cause of death was the breast cancer but exacerbated by the senility. I could be wrong but it makes sense.

[237SJ]

I am assuming that because the carcinoma was listed first, then that is what killed her. I did wonder if the senility was actually the effects of the breast cancer when it went into the brain (which tends to be the course of the disease in my family) This was in 1951 though, so God knows what was going on

[EDDIE51]

Quizproquo is correct the prime cause of death (I) was the cancer and the secondary( II ) cause was old age. The certificate uses Roman numerals I,II,III,IV and so on.

[237SJ]

So what does 1 (a) mean?

[Mamyalynne]

Some guidance here.

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/vital-events/coding-causes-of-death.pdf

[Mamyalynne]

I see it says 'Scotland' but doubt that changes a great deal contained within the document.

[EDDIE51]

That probably also means it was the prime cause of death, not sure why it would say I and a.
Is it a handwritten certificate? Doctors writing was /is notoriously hard to decipher !
As to if the cancer caused the senility there can be no way to know, back in 1951 far less was known about such things anyway.

[Calibax]

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/suhtideal/Doctors/MedicalPersonnelInduction/CauseofDeathCertificate.pdf
I(a)Disease of Condition that led directly to death.
I(b)Immediate Cause of death (if applicable)
I(c)Underlying cause of death (if applicable)
II Other conditions contributing to death

[Peter Pedant]

sho ting baby
( I know what it means)

Death cert is a legal duty and has rules - most of them were in the covers of the red book from which the DC is torn after filling it out

one is an i) isnt it
this is the prime cause of death - the most immediate

ii) is contributory factors and it sounds as tho the doctor had more that one choice if he wished ( iia and iib)

25 y later - you werent allowed to put old age or senility down as a cause of death. I am not sure what happened if you did - did the coroner come around and shoot you ?

and it seems that you already know that DC cause of death is a very rough real cause of death .... about 30% are inaccurate at the best of times - but does it matter if you have put down Ca Breast when it is carcinomatosis or heart failure ?

For a neighbour who had drunk himself to death ( not a cause of death- the coroner used to insist on an inquest if you mentioned alcohol) I offered the coroners officer - "look chronic lung disease, diabetes, and heart disease - oh and he had a triple bypass a year ago - he had lots to die from you know oh and chronic pancreatitis"
they werent that impressed with my 'lets get thro all the paperwork as quick as poss" attitude ( estate insolvent I hasten to add)

[EDDIE51]

Page 2 of Mamyalynna's link explains it
I(a), as I said, indicates the prime cause of death
II indicates the secondary cause.

[Peter Pedant]

Dont take the causes too seriously

one of mine 1855 died from lymph node enlargement from tapeworm

what ? - and another from 'pneumonia' when the family tradition said he fell into a vat of molten brass .....

[Mamyalynne]

I think you do tend to look closer when something occurs often in your family, it makes you consider your own position.

[237SJ]

Thanks for the replies